Putin Hints at Possible Control Over Sumy as Tensions Escalate Along Ukraines Border

On Friday, President Vladimir Putin indicated that he does not entirely dismiss the possibility of his military forces seizing control of the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy as part of an initiative to establish a buffer zone along the Russian border.

«We don’t have a specific objective to capture Sumy, but I cannot entirely exclude it… They consistently threaten us by shelling our border areas,» Putin stated during Russia’s main economic forum in St. Petersburg.

Located approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Russian border, Sumy has faced intense assaults since the beginning of Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

In a series of aggressive statements, Putin reiterated his stance that denies the legitimacy of Ukrainian statehood.

«I regard Russians and Ukrainians as one people. Therefore, all of Ukraine belongs to us,» he asserted.

«There is a saying: wherever a Russian soldier stands, that territory is ours.»

These remarks further complicate the chances for peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.

For several months, Russia has dismissed calls for an unconditional ceasefire, insisting that Ukraine must relinquish additional territory as a prerequisite.

Last August, Ukraine launched a counteroffensive into Russia’s western Kursk region, originating from its northeastern Sumy region.

Ukrainian forces managed to capture numerous border settlements, maintaining control for several months before being expelled by Russian troops, supported by thousands of North Korean soldiers, earlier this year.

Following this, Putin directed his military to establish what he referred to as a «buffer zone» within Ukrainian territory along the Russian border.

In recent weeks, Russian forces have seized several border settlements in the Sumy area.

On Friday, Putin claimed that his troops have advanced up to 12 kilometers into Ukrainian territory in this region, which does not belong to the five Ukrainian regions that Moscow claims to have officially annexed.